Friday, 16 May 2008

Jazzie B, the north London frontman of urban music collective Soul II Soul, has received an OBE from the Prince of Wales for services to music.The musician wore his trademark dreadlocks in long plaits and sported a leather-look morning suit to his investiture at Buckingham Palace.Jazzie B, 45, real name Trevor Romeo, has spent 20 years in the industry.He labelled the moment "fantastic". "I'm going to get a really special place for this on my shelf," he said.Influential figureJazzie's 12-year-old son Mahlon attended the ceremony in a matching outfit.Soul II Soul played stadium concerts for 30,000 people and collected two Grammys at the height of their fame in the late 80s and early 90s.He is still considered to be one of the most influential urban music figures in Britain and has produced artists as diverse as the Fine Young Cannibals, Sinead O'Connor and Destiny's Child.The musician also hosts Jazzie B Saturdays on BBC Radio London 94.9 each week.Jazz legend Andy Hamilton from Ladywood, Birmingham, was awarded the MBE during Friday's ceremony. Mr Hamilton, 90, still plays the saxophone and teaches youngsters about jazz.Mr Hamilton, whose son Graham who used to play with Fine Young Cannibals, said: "I'm very proud and I'm going to have a big party when I get back."